BIESER NOW IN CARDINALS' ORGANIZATION

Former Southeast Missouri State University baseball star Steve Bieser has once again switched professional organizations.

Bieser, who has been with several organizations during a fairly lengthy pro career that has seen him primarily toil in the minor leagues, was recently acquired by the St. Louis Cardinals from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The utility player, who had been performing for the Pirates' Class AA Altoona (Pa.) team, is now with the Memphis (Tenn.) Redbirds, the Cardinals' Class AAA affiliate.

Bieser, playing some infield and some outfield, is batting .225 so far at Memphis.

A Ste. Genevieve native, Bieser completed his eligibility at Southeast in 1989 and was picked in the 32nd round of the major league draft by Philadelphia.

Bieser finally made it up to the major leagues in 1997, batting .247 with the New York Mets in about a half a season before being sent back down to the minors. He also saw brief major-league action with the Pirates last year.

Following is a look at how some other area products are faring in the minor leagues this season:

* Kerry Robinson, a former Southeast standout, continues to shine on the Class AAA level.

Robinson, who completed his eligibility at Southeast in 1995, is among the Pacific Coast League leaders in several offensive categories as he plays for the Seattle Mariners' Tacoma (Wash.) team.

The speedy outfielder, who is batting .325, leads the PCL in triples with nine and in stolen bases with 30. He is also fourth in hits with 104.

* Matt Whiteside, the other area product in the Class AAA ranks, is 7-5 with a 5.80 earned-run average pitching for the San Diego Padres' Las Vegas team of the PCL.

A 1986 Charleston High School graduate, Whiteside has spent more than five seasons in the major leagues, primarily with the Texas Rangers.

* Ryan Spille, a star pitcher for Southeast the past two seasons, is off to a solid start in his rookie professional campaign.

Spille, who was recently promoted from rookie ball, is 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA hurling for the Toronto Blue Jays' Hagerstown (Md.) team in the Class A South Atlantic League. In 19 1/3 innings, Spille has allowed 13 hits while striking out 19 and walking five.

* Steve Lowe, who like Spille was a star player for Southeast the past two years, is struggling during his rookie minor league season.

A shortstop, Lowe is batting just 0.91 (2-for-22) for the Cleveland Indians' Mahoning Valley (Ohio) squad in the New York-Penn Rookie League.

* Talley Haines, a 1995 Cape Central High School graduate, continues to put up impressive numbers pitching for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' Charleston (S.C.) team in the Class A South Atlantic League.

In his second pro season, Haines -- who serves as a closer out of the bullpen -- is 1-0 with eight saves and a 3.18 ERA. In 34 innings, he's allowed 21 hits while fanning 40 and walking seven.

* Lamonte Collier, another former Southeast standout, is batting .226 for the Philadelphia Phillies' Clearwater team of the Class A Florida State League.

Collier, an infielder who completed his eligibility at Southeast in 1997, is in his third pro season.

* Kevin Vent, a 1995 Sikeston High School graduate, is 0-2 with a 4.43 ERA for the San Francisco Giants' Salem-Keizer (Ore.) squad of the Class A Northwest League.

Vent, in his first pro season after completing his eligibility at the University of Arkansas this year, has allowed 24 hits while fanning 18 and walking six in 22 1/3 innings.